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An Clarach Cumann Luthchleas Gael
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U21 Football Championship Final Clara 3-7 St. Michaels 2-9 CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO OF PHOTOS Yahooooooooooooooooo that’s how I’m going to start this report, because no matter who played well and who scored what and what the ref done, the bottom line on this glorious St.Patricks Day, Tuesday 17th March is that Clara are the 2009 U-21 football champions. And hats off to them! This is nothing short of what these lads deserve….., and what Clara GAA deserve for their efforts over the last number of years. This was a combination of the experience of Paul Deehan, Paul Mitchell, Ross Brady, the youth of Barry Cushen, Richie Slammon, the ball carrying and pace of Graham Guilfoyle. the determination of Lorcan Hiney, Darren Coughlan, Sean Kelly, Gary Slammon, the reading of the game by John Ledwith, Oisin Robbins, Andrew Cushen, the ball gathering and accurate passing of Caoimhan Sheridan, Darren Scanlon, the kicking accuracy of Joey Deehan and Pa Smith, the way John Flattery and Aaron Ngo came on in the semi- final and done what was asked of them, Gary Keegan who I’m sure would have been fighting for a place in the forward line had he not stepped up and took the number one jersey on that first night 5 weeks ago in Tubber, the knowledge and experience of Noel Brady and Willie Reynolds, John Naughton and Mick Coughlan on the line, and the work done long before yesterday by the likes of John Buckley, PJ Rickard, James Stewart, Tommy Cushen, our club chairman Mick Sheridan and many many more backroom people who put in a tremendous effort week-in week-out off the field, this my friend’s is a victory for all!.. Now for what I can remember, as much of it is a blur to me at this minute, the second Ross Brady stuck the ball in the back of the Rhode net with roughly five minutes to go, a lot of what had happened up to that faded from my memory, that’s not to say that I have a bad memory, because while I was watching him score that goal the All- Ireland final of 1982 came flooding back to me, and the tremendous piece of fielding by Seamus Darby who then turned and blasted the ball past Charlie nelligan to the Kerry net to set Offaly up for a victory, its maybe a little ironic that Seamus was a Rhode man, and for those who were at the game I’m sure they saw the similarities as well. Clara got off to a good start scoring 1-3 in the fist 15 minutes of this game, they were never going to pull to far away from this Rhode team who would have been well fancied to win this encounter, a Rhode team packed with quality players like Maguire, Murphy, Sullivan, Connell ,Casey. The Clara lads knew they had a job to do and when John Ledwith, Oisin Robbins, and Gary Slammon cleared the first 3 or 4 attacks I sensed there could be a victory for Clara. But true to Clara fashion we didn’t make it easy on ourselves, and losing Graham Guilfoyle to a head injury after 15 minutes in, things looked bleak for us, then I looked to the other side of the field and saw Caoimhan Sheridan being stretchered off through a knee injury, I almost gave up. However (and this is where your panel is so important, cause in my books it takes 20 to 25 players on a panel to win anything) on comes Barry Cushen and Sean Kelly to pick up where the boys left off. Cushen won ball he had no right to win and Kelly fought tirelessly for possession both in attack and defence until he made way for the return of Guilfoyle 20 minutes later. Joey Deehan showed great accuracy with the boot once again, he’s one fault being a close range free he chose to kick off the ground and missed badly. Paul Deehan had a big game in the middle of the field and with Ross Brady anchored at full forward he had a great target to aim for. We seemed to make hard work of it at times with 3 or 4 clearances from the back falling straight into the arms of a Rhode defender, then from that position we were on the back foot as they attacked with pace. Anton Sullivan split the Clara defence on several occasions with precision passing across the field. Although we seemed to have plenty of players behind the ball we lost our shape in the second half and but for the heart and determination to win the ball back and coupled with the fact that Rhode were trying to walk the ball in instead of kicking from distance, things could have turned out different. With about 3 minutes to go on one of these attacks the ball did end up in the back of the net, I’m not sure exactly how many times the Rhode men fouled the ball before they got it past Gary Keegan but luckily the umpire was on hand to fill in Eamon Cusack the man in black, and Clara got a free out for a square ball. A few more anxious moments and a last minute free for Rhode just to the right of the posts, to tie it up and bring it to a replay, but due to pressure or maybe it was just a bit of Irish luck sent our way from good old St Paddy but the normally accurate Casey sent it wide on the left. Shortly after this the ref blew for full time and one of the biggest parties since Brian Cowen was elected got underway. The cup was presented to the Clara captain Paul Mitchell who in his speech used a small bit of Irish that I never heard on the podium before, but that same bit of Irish was used plenty between the hours of 4 o clock and 5.15 by the many Clara supporters urging on the gallant band of lads in the black and white.. The team arrived back to the Quaker house on the Tullamore road where there was anything up to 20 cars pulled in behind Patrick Phelans lorry. The lorry was togged out to the last in the black and white of Clara as it had been in the parade earlier in the day. And what a way to end its day than to drive the first county champions of 2009 up the streets of Clara town where many well wishers lined the streets. Some had been in O’Connor Park to see the victory others had been drowning the shamrock but they all came out to see the boys home. The lorry came to a stop in the square where photos were taken and maybe even an autograph or two signed but this was the end of the lorry and the start of a long night. I’m a very happy and proud Clara man today. God knows we go through our good patches and our bad, but there’s one thing I know for sure, Clara is awash with talent in both football and hurling. We are a very proud club in this our 125th year, but this is just the start of our year we have a lot more cups to win! We have the right people in place to train and coach our young lads and guide them through their sporting careers, but my advice is this, to all you lads who done so well in bringing the Under 21 cup back to Clara….. Pubs can be a great place to celebrate a victory but it’s on the field where its earned. Enjoy your couple of night’s celebrations and then heads down and let’s get some more silverware back to what we all know as the little town of Clara… Slán Derek
Team: Gary Keegan, Oisin
Robbins, John Ledwith, Gary Slammon, Darren Coughlan, Paul Mitchell (C), |
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